5-Minute Tofu Vegan Sour Cream

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my full disclosure here.

I was skeptical about dairy-free sour cream because I had always loved the dairy version, but this Tofu Vegan Sour Cream recipe is surprisingly delicious! Creamy and tangy wonderfulness!

a bright blue bowl filled with tofu vegan sour cream with a loaded baked potato and red checkered napkin in the background.

This tofu sour cream is a fantastic dairy-free alternative, offering a creamy, tangy flavor that’s perfect for all your favorite dishes. Made with simple, plant-based ingredients, it’s a healthier option without sacrificing taste. Plus, it’s incredibly versatile, making it an ideal topping for bean tacos, vegan nachos, and more.

One of my favorite ways to use this tofu sour cream is to dollop it on these air fryer baked potatoes. We also have a dry dairy-free ranch seasoning mix on this website that pairs beautifully with this sour cream to make a delicious dip!

Reasons you will love this recipe

  • Creamy and Tangy Texture: This vegan tofu sour cream offers a creamy and tangy texture that closely mimics traditional sour cream, making it perfect for topping dishes or adding to recipes without compromising on flavor.
  • High in Protein: Made from tofu, this vegan sour cream is a great source of plant-based protein, adding nutritional value to your meals while keeping them dairy-free and delicious.
  • Simple and Quick to Make: With just a few ingredients and a blender, this vegan tofu sour cream is quick and easy to prepare, making it a convenient addition to any meal or snack.
  • Versatile for Various Dishes: This tofu-based sour cream can be used in a wide range of recipes, from plant-based tacos and baked potatoes to dips and dressings, making it a versatile and essential staple in any vegan kitchen.

Ingredients you will need

block of tofu with three chunks in front and mint leaf, chopstick on side
  • Tofu- Silken tofu is ideal for making vegan sour cream because of its smooth, creamy texture that closely resembles traditional sour cream. It blends easily into a silky consistency without leaving a grainy or chunky texture, making it perfect for creating a rich and luscious dairy-free alternative.
  • Lemon juice- Adds a tangy flavor that mimics the acidity of traditional sour cream. The acidity from the lemon juice helps balance the creaminess of the tofu, creating a more authentic taste and brightening the overall flavor of the sour cream.
  • Garlic- Enhance its flavor, adding a subtle savory note that complements the tanginess of the lemon juice.
  • Vinegar- Closely mimicking the sharpness of traditional sour cream.
  • Salt- Balances the flavors, bringing out the tanginess from the lemon juice and vinegar while deepening the overall taste.

Tips & Suggestions

  • Seasoning- For me, tweaking the salt, lemon juice, and vinegar for your personal taste can really make this vegan sour cream pop.
  • Tofu- Firm silken tofu works best for this recipe. After chilling in the refrigerator, it becomes thicker.

How to make tofu sour cream

The recipe card at the bottom of the page has the full list of ingredients with measurements and instructions.

blender filled with vegan mayonnaise

STEP #1: Open the silken tofu container and drain the water it has been packed in.

If you’re using shelf-stable tofu (recommended) which doesn’t need refrigeration, you shouldn’t need to set it on paper towels because it isn’t packed with much water.

However, the refrigerator-type soft tofu will need to be drained and allowed to sit on a dishcloth or a few paper towels before use. This article, Easy Tofu Recipes, has more information on the different types of tofu and how to use them.

Place all ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.

loaded baked potato with sour cream begin scooped onto it with wooden spoon

STEP #2: Use immediately or chill in the refrigerator. It will thicken after chilling.

Serve on Vegan Nacho Supreme, Meatless Crockpot Chili, or use it to make my Creamy Vegan Mushroom Stroganoff.

Storage Tips

Stored in an airtight jar or container in the refrigerator, this dairy-free sour cream recipe will stay fresh in the refrigerator for about 7-10 days. It does not freeze well. 

You’ll know when it is beginning to go bad because it will become a little watery. As always, smell it to make sure that it doesn’t have a foul odor to it.

*Originally published January 2015.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use refrigerator-type tofu?

Silken tofu that is shelf-stable is preferred because of its smooth, creamy texture. However, the refrigerator-type soft or firm tofu can be used. It will need to be drained and pressed first.

How long does it last?

Tofu sour cream can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5-7 days. Stir before using, as it may separate slightly over time.

Can I freeze tofu sour cream?

No. Freezing tofu changes its texture and causes it to become more crumbly. For best results, use fresh tofu sour cream.

vegan sour cream on white wooden table with loaded baked potato in background

For those of you new to the whole food plant-based lifestyle, we’ve created a FREE 7-Day Plant-Based Menu Planner to help you get started!

If you try this recipe, please let us know how you like it by rating it and leaving a comment. We love to hear from you!

Want to Save This Recipe?

Enter your email & I'll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!

Save Article

By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from EatPlant-Based

vegan sour cream in bright blue bowl with loaded baked potato in background
4.44 from 165 votes

5-Minute Tofu Vegan Sour Cream

I was skeptical about dairy-free sour cream because I had always loved the dairy-version, but this tofu vegan sour cream recipe is surprisingly delicious! Creamy and tangy wonderfulness!
Prep: 5 minutes
Total: 5 minutes
Servings: 8 servings

Ingredients 

  • 1 pkg firm silken tofu 12-14 oz
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
  • 1 clove garlic or more
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Instructions

  • Open tofu package and drain any water. If using shelf-stable tofu, there won't be much water. For the refrigerated tofu, you'll need to drain and then press all water out.
  • Place all ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.
  • Keeps in air tight container in the refrigerator for up to 10 days.

Video

Notes

Tips & Suggestions:
  1. Seasoning- For me, tweaking the salt, lemon juice, and vinegar for your personal taste can really make this vegan sour cream pop.
  2. Tofu- Firm silken tofu works best for this recipe. After chilling in the refrigerator, this vegan sour cream becomes thicker.
  3. Storage- In an airtight container in the refrigerator, this should keep for about 7-10 days. It does NOT freeze well.

Nutrition

Calories: 36kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 2g | Sodium: 78mg

Disclaimer

To obtain the most accurate representation of the nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.

Please rate & share if you like this!Leave a comment or share on Pinterest or Instagram

Similar Posts

48 Comments

  1. This is seriously the best plant-based sour cream I have tried and honestly won’t try any others…and won’t ever buy one from the store again. This is just perfect in my opinion and so easy to make. THANK YOU!!

  2. I dumped the whole contents of the shelf stable package into the container and let it sit all morning because I forgot about it! The good news is that more liquid drained by the time I added the other ingredients. I used my Nutribullet because it is smaller. I doubled the salt and added a teaspoon of sugar. I think this is a great sour cream! Thank you for the recipe!

  3. I’m excited to try it – thank you. Do you think it will work to replace store bought vegan sour cream in vegan cheesecake?

    Bimala

  4. I have a member in my house who is anti vinegar. The recipe already calls for lemon juice which I usually use as a substitute. Any suggestions? I’m afraid of the taste if I increase the lemon juice to make up for the vinegar, or leaving it out.

  5. I just made your sour cream for the first time. It taste great! But it was a bit liquidy. Is this normal? Should it thicken ok in the fridge?

  6. This was amazing, much better than what you buy at the store. My picky vegetarian daughter even liked it almost as much as real sour cream!

  7. This is unbelievably tasty! So easy to throw together. One of the best vegan sour cream recipe I’ve found. Thank you!

4.44 from 165 votes (156 ratings without comment)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating